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'''Finland''' is a part of the Northern [[Europe]], one of the NordicCountries. It's neighboring neighbouring countries are [[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and[[Russia]], but possibly the most probable transit country on yourway hitchhiking there is [[Estonia]].

==Arriving and leaving the country==Here would be the tips how to get to the country. Probably most of the people coming and leaving Finland by [[thumb]] use the [[Via Baltica]] through [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] towards [[Poland]].

Here would be == About crossing borders ==Nothing special about the Finnish borders. Apart from the tips how to get to Russian border, they just exist on the countrymap anyway, and not in reality. Probably most Since the dawn of time has there been very liberal co-operation between thepeople coming and leaving Finland by [[thumb]] use the [[Via Baltica]]through [[Estonia]]Finnish, [[Latvia]] Swedish and [[Lithuania]] towards [[Poland]]Norwegian borders.

==About crossing borders==Nothing special about Finland is in the Finnish borders[http://en.wikipedia. Apart from org/wiki/Schengen_treaty Schengen treaty], but [[Ahvenanmaa]] where the Russian borderferries to [[Stockholm]] stop supposedly isn't, they just exist on so the mapanyway, and not in realityborder-control can use that as an excuse to go through your property. Since the dawn They won't though, but one busload of time has there beenvery liberal coanti-operation between the Finnish, Swedish and NorwegianbordersEU protesters encountered this issue in 2003 when travelling from Helsinki to an EU summit held in [[Gothenborg]].

Finland === From/to Sweden ===Ferries to [[Stockholm]] go from [[Helsinki]] and [[Turku]]. The latter being closer is considerably cheaper. Both ferries also stop in [[Maarianhamina]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_treaty Schengen treaty[Ahvenanmaa]], but or [[AhvenanmaaMariehamn]] where the ferries toin [[StockholmÅland]] stop supposedly isn't, so as the borderswedish-control can usethat as an excuse speaking population there tend to go through your propertycall it. The two companies running ferries between Finland and Sweden are [http://Www.vikingline.fi Viking Line] and [http://www.silja.com Silja Line]. They won't though, butone busload Both of antithe companies concentrate on bringing the customers a cruise-EU protesters encountered this issue in 2003 whentraveling from Helsinki experience, and are bound to an EU summit held in be tacky. At least Viking Line sells simple tickets without a cabin, which would be rather useless on the daytime trips between [[Turku]] and [[GothenborgStockholm]]anyway.

Ferries It isn't to [[say the archipelagoes of Stockholm]] go or Turku don't make a nice scenery. On the ferries there's a constant attempt to lure people to buy as much tax-free booze and other stupid things as much as allowed by the regulations. It really isn't much more affordable than at land especially since the regulations for importing from [[Helsinki]] and [[TurkuEstonia]], which they won't tell you of course. Thelatter being closer is considerably cheaperSo, do bring a book. Both ferries also stopin [[Maarianhamina]] in [[Ahvenanmaa]], Usually there's free Playstation or [[Mariehamn]] in [[Åland]]as XBox games at the swedishkids-speaking population there tend section to spend the time, plus usually some other backpackers or other such to call itchat with. The twocompanies running ferries between Finland and Sweden areYou can also try to spot a small islands severely damaged by [http://Wwwen.vikinglinewikipedia.fi Viking Line] and [http:org/wiki/www.silja.com Silja LineGreat_Cormorant great cormorants]. Both of the companies concentrate on bringing the customers acruise-experience, and are bound to be tacky. At least Viking Linesells simple tickets without a cabin, which would be rather useless onthe daytime trips between [[Turku]] and few hours off [[Stockholm]] anyway.

Silja Line is Then there's the poshier of the twoSwedish [http://www.birka.se Birka Cruises], and thus whose product is apparently closer to a more expensive. It's still tacky, thoughproper cruise.

It isn't === From/to say the archipelagoes of Stockholm or Turku don't make aEstonia ===nice scenery. On the ferries there's a constant attempt to lurepeople to buy as much taxThere is no land-free booze connection between Finland and other stupid things as muchas allowed by the regulations. It really isn't much more affordablethan at land especially since the regulations for importing from[[Estonia]], which they won't tell you of course. So, do bring abook. Usually there's free Playstation or XBox games at thekids-section There are several daily boats from Helsinki to spend the time, plus usually some other backpackers orother such to chat with. You can also try to spot a small islandsseverely damaged by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cormorant great cormorants] a few hours off [[Stockholm]]Tallinn.

Then there's the Swedish [http:=== From//www.birka.se Birka Cruises], whoseproduct is apparently closer to a more proper cruise.Norway ===

===From/to Estonia=== There is no land-connection between Finland and [[Estonia]]. There areseveral daily boats from Helsinki to Tallinn. ===From/to Norway=== ===From/to Russia=== '''Note''':

 The most important crossings to Russia (St . Petersburg region) are ''Vaalimaa - TorfianovkaVaalimaa–Torfianovka'' one the road E18/7 Helsinki-St-Petersburg and ''Nuijamaa - BrusnichnoeNuijamaa–Brusnichnoe'' near Lappeenranta.  

The first one is always animated, 7/7 and almost 24h/24. There's lots of through traffic as well as lots of locals from both sides of the border, with Russians coming to buy goods, finnish people going to the other side to buy alcohol, cigarette and fuel and all sort of traffickers. On finnish side they are crowding on the first gas station, just before the customs zone. You can alternate asking drivers on the parking and those queueing to the terminal. A ride to Torfianovka is enough - – there's lots of transport going to [[Vyborg]] and [[St. Petersburg]] from there, that doesn't necessarily cross the border. No use trying to get into Russia with trucks - – freight terminal is separate, and sometimes you wait hours, sometimes - days. Russia - Finland Russia–Finland seems to be faster. To get back from Russia to Finland the best way is to ask on the parking of one of the supermarkets around.

==Where to stay?== ==Money==Finland is a part of the [[EU]] and the currency used is Euro.

==LanguageMoney ==Finland is a part of the [[EU]] and the currency used is Euro.

== Language ==The language most people in Finland speak is Finnish, which isn't aScandinavian language. The country is officially bilingual, as thereis a large Swedish-speaking minority. Anyhow, most of the people speakat least some English, so most of the international hitchhikers won't have big language problems in Finland.

===Useful expressions for hitchhikers=== 

==Safety==Hitchhiking is quite safe in Finland indeed. As always, common sense is your friend.

== Legal matters for hitchhikers ==Hitchhiking is quite safe legal in Finland indeed. As alwaysAnyhow, common sensethere are some places where it is your friendillegal for the cars to stop and some places where it's illegal for pedestrians to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking de facto illegal in these places.

==Legal matters for hitchhikersHighways ==It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways (called "moottoritie") and some motorways ("moottoriliikennetie") in Finland. You can recognize these from the green signs.

Hitchhiking is legal The cars can not stop in Finland. Anyhowcrossing areas, there are and some places whereit is illegal for the cars to stop not obeying this rule and some places where it's illegalfor pedestarians taking hitchhikers on board are know to stand. Both of these make hitchhiking de factoillegal in these placesbe fined.

==Highways== It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways (called "moottoritie") andsome motorways ("moottoriliikennetie") in Finland. You can recognizethese from the green signs. The cars can not stop in crossing areas, and some cars not obeyingthis rule and taking hitchhikers on board are know to be fined. Hitching is illegal in Finland on the motorways and two laneexpressways. On any other highway you can legally hitch. On motorwaysyou can also legally use the on-ramps as well as the gas stations.

==Culture== Hitchhiking used to be popular in the 70's and 80's, and aconsiderable amount of the rides will tell the hitchkiker(s) they'vehitched themselves back in the day. Nowadays it's quite rare amongFinns, but of course there are some European backpackers, oftenheading to [[Lappi]], [[Lapland]]. ==Places to see== Cities of [[Helsinki]], [[Tampere]], [[Turku]], [[Jyväskylä]],[[Joensuu]], [[Oulu]]. [[Lapland]], [[Lappi]] in is the area spanningnorthern Finland, [[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and also [[Russia]], depending on how youlook at it. ==External links==

*== Places to see ==Cities of [http://www[Helsinki]], [[Tampere]], [[Turku]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Joensuu]], [[Oulu]].liftari.org Finnish hitchhiker's club [[Lapland]], [[Lappi]] The site is mostly in Finnish but there is an English section in the area spanning northern Finland, [http://www[Sweden]], [[Norway]] and also [[Russia]], depending on how you look at it.liftari.org/forum forum]

== External links ==* [http://www.liftari.org Finnish hitchhiker's club] The site is mostly in Finnish but there is an English section in the [http://www.liftari.org/forum forum]*[http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/kjokisal/liftaus/ Hitchhiker's guide to Europe] A Hitchhiking site by a Finn* [http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/ssmoland/peukalo/ Liftausvinkkejä] Hitchhiking tips in Finnish

[[Category:Finland|*]][[Category:Europe]]